LI Track Star's Court Win, Allowing Her To Compete In Championship, 'Well Deserved'

RIVERHEAD, NY — She is off and running.

William Floyd High School track star Zariel Macchia won a very well-deserved appeal on Thursday, her attorney, Cynthia Augello of Manhattan, told Patch.

Earlier this week, the six-time state championship winner sued the New York Public High School Athletic Association and Section XI Athletics New York State Public High School Athletic Association, seeking a temporary restraining order that would allow her to compete in the Staten Island in the state championship meet on Saturday.

The filing argued against a ruling by state sports officials, preventing the 18-year-old from competing for the rest of the indoor track and field season after she competed against college athletes last month.

In a Riverhead courtroom, Judge Christopher Modelewski said he was allowing Macchia to run on Saturday, and that based on the testimony, she did not have knowledge of the rule she violated, adding that there was "no question" the ruling would cause the teen irreparable harm because of the Name Image and Likeness opportunities she could receive in college, Newsday reported.

The Feb. 18 ruling alleged Macchia, who has committed to run for Brigham Young University, violated the “College Rule” in the association's handbook, stating athletes can't “participate in practice or competition with or against any individual or team representing a college” at any time during a sport’s season, according to the outlet.

Macchia, who participated in the Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Feb. 15, finishing third in the 1,000, would not have violated the rule if her opponents had run unaffiliated, the outlet reported.

New York Public High School Athletic Association declined comment.

Augello called the court "fair, reasoned, and thorough in ruling in Zariel's favor."

In a statement to Patch, William Floyd School District spokesman James Montalto said officials there "are pleased that Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Christopher Modelewski ruled in favor of allowing Zariel to run."

"We are excited that she will have the opportunity to run in her final indoor track and field state championship race of her high school career," he said. "She is a phenomenal student and athlete, both in the classroom and on the track, and an even better person."

"We look forward to all of the top competitors from across the state competing this weekend," he said. "She worked so hard for this and deserves the opportunity."